Fresh Sound Foundation Inc
Fresh Sound Foundation Inc is a private grantmaking foundation based in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Established in 1996, the foundation operates as a supporting organization to the Tides Foundation. The organization is designated as a 501(c)(3) public foundation and has been tax-exempt since April 1996.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$8.2M
+5.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.1M
+23.6% YoY
Grant Count
41
+0.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$27K
+23.6% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation envisions "a world where all people have voice and power to participate, and our natural resources are vibrant and resilient."
The foundation focuses its grantmaking in two primary areas:
Arts & Culture — The foundation believes in the power of arts and culture to advance equity and justice in society. It supports artists and culture bearers as essential contributors to community engagement, celebrating difference, and advancing narrative change in support of democratic participation.
Environment & Climate Justice — The foundation supports equitable, science-based advocacy, policies, and solutions that improve people's lives, with particular emphasis on low-income communities and communities of color.
Grantmaking
Based on the most recent financial data available, the foundation distributed $910,000 in total giving. Annual revenues were reported at $921,594, with expenses of $935,551.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Total Assets: $7,779,391 (2024)
Total Giving: $910,000 (2024)
Annual Revenue: $921,594 (2022)
Annual Expenses: $935,551 (2022)
Total Assets: $7,445,016 (2020)
The foundation maintains no liabilities as of the most recent reporting period.
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $8,206,880 | $7,779,391 | $7,657,068 |
| Revenue | $1,819,239 | $1,260,111 | $771,801 |
| Expenses | $1,370,311 | $1,139,283 | $978,492 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,224,799 | $1,008,375 | $817,869 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,704,790 | $1,007,052 | $568,810 |
| Distributable Amount | $484,992 | $498,451 | $507,141 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
Grant Size Distribution
138 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
John F. Burt — Principal Officer
The foundation is also led by Laurie Burt and Jeff Burt, as referenced in the foundation's sunset aspiration statement.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
From 2025 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JOHN F BURT | TRUSTEE | 2 | — |
| S JEFFREY BURT | TRUSTEE | 2 | — |
| LAURIE BURT | TRUSTEE | 2 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has announced a sunset strategy with operations concluding in 2026-2027. Leadership has expressed commitment to deepening relationships with current partners during this final period, emphasizing a practice of philanthropy "rooted in joy" and grounded in the values of inclusion, generosity, and courage.
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
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Similar funders by location and focus area
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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